May 10, Madison Square Garden, New York.
After suffering a crushing defeat in Boston, the Knicks returned home but instead of finding redemption, they completely collapsed. Interim head coach Don Cheney was hastily put in charge and was unable to unite this demoralized team.
During Game 3, Madison Square Garden was filled with boos and chants of "Fire Dolan!" even in the first half.
Ultimately, the Knicks suffered another crushing defeat at home, 118-72.
The score is 0-3.
The New York Knicks have been pushed to the brink of being swept.
However, even more explosive news occurred at the post-match press conference than the defeat on the field.
Knicks owner LeBron James Dolan completely lost his temper after the loss. Instead of keeping a low profile, he publicly confronted the league office in front of the media, pointing the finger at the Boston Celtics management.
This is illegal poaching!
Dolan was waving his arms furiously and spitting as he spoke in the media hall of Madison Square Garden.
" Jeff Van Gundy just left us and then signed on as a senior advisor to the Boston Celtics! Who in the entire league doesn't know that the Celtics are behind this? They maliciously contacted our head coach during the playoffs, which is a trampling on the league's fair play principles! I have officially submitted a letter of protest to David Stern, demanding that the league immediately launch an investigation into Boston's misconduct!"
Dolan's public criticism instantly ignited a nationwide media frenzy. Major sports channels rushed to report on it, and public opinion was directed at the Celtics.
The outside world is waiting to see Boston's reaction, and many are even speculating whether the league office will actually intervene in the investigation under pressure.
A few hours later, in the CEO's office in Boston.
Lin Qi was sipping his coffee while browsing the headlines of various media outlets, a playful smile on his lips.
Head coach Rick Carlisle walked in, his face grave. " Lin Qi, Dolan has made quite a stir in the media this time. The league office has already called for their routine inquiry. Although Van Gundy regained his free agency through the official termination process, at this sensitive juncture... should we issue an official statement to downplay the situation?"
"Cold treatment? Why should we give it a cold treatment?"
Lin Qi put down his coffee cup, pulled a printed sheet of paper from the drawer, and handed it to Rick Carlisle.
Rick Carlisle took the paper with a puzzled look. There were only a few words on it, but they made this person who had been around the North America sports circle for many years widen his eyes instantly.
"This is..." Rick Carlisle looked up at Lin Qi in disbelief, "You're planning to bring this out?"
"Of course." Lin Qi sneered. "A man like LeBron James Dolan will never know what 'the guilty party accusing the innocent' means unless his face is utterly humiliated in public. Have the PR department send this statement verbatim to the Boston Globe and ESPN in my name."
Half an hour later, a public response from Celtics president Lin Qi exploded like a nuclear bomb in the cross-industry media sphere between the NBA and NFL.
In response to Dolan's accusations, Lin Qi retorted sharply in a public statement.
"Regarding Mr. LeBron James Dolan's allegations of 'illegal recruitment,' I suggest he first check with the New York Jets in the NFL next door."
"Mr. Jeff Van Gundy accepted our legal offer only after he terminated all his contracts with the Knicks and became a free agent. If Mr. Dolan insists that personnel changes during the playoffs are an unforgivable sin, then perhaps he should ask his predecessor, the coach who pulled out a napkin at a press conference, announced 'I resign,' and then immediately joined Boston."
"Finally, I'd like to offer Mr. Dolan a sincere piece of advice: instead of wasting your energy writing complaints to the league office and trying to blame the team's incompetence on conspiracy theories, think carefully about why your players lack even the most basic fighting spirit on the court. Madison Square Garden doesn't need an incompetent tyrant, but a knowledgeable owner."
paper napkin!
The moment the word "napkin" spread through the media, the entire American sports world instantly understood who Lin Qi was satirizing.
The NFL's most notorious farce of last year.
In January 2000, coach Beal Belichick had been appointed as the new head coach of the New York Jets. However, at the official press conference, he changed his mind at the last minute. In front of all the media, he pulled out a napkin with a note already written on it and read aloud, "I resign as head coach of the Jets."
Shortly after resigning, he dramatically joined the Jets ' arch-rivals, the New England Patriots. This team, along with the Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, and Boston Bruins, is one of the top powerhouse teams in the Boston area.
The day after the statement was published, major media outlets in New York were on high alert. The New York Post even used it as a headline.
Shut up, Dolan! The Boston have nailed us to the pillory of shame.
The league office initially intended to conduct a token investigation, but after seeing Lin Qi's logically sound, well-supported ( Van Gundy's termination of the contract was legal) and sarcastic statement, David Stern directly dismissed Dolan's protest letter, citing "insufficient evidence, no case to be filed," and threw it into the shredder.
Inside the home team's locker room at Madison Square Garden.
LeBron James Dolan, enraged by the scathing satire of "napkins" in the newspaper, smashed his laptop to pieces.
" Lin Qi... I'll make you pay for this in the next match! Kick their asses hard!!" Dolan roared like a beast.
However, anger cannot bridge the gap in tactics and talent.
In Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Knicks players, who came on with a burning anger and a desire for revenge, were completely overwhelmed after only two and a half quarters against the Celtics ' impenetrable defense and the tactical support recently brought by Van Gundy.
The final whistle blows.
128:79.
Another resounding 49-point victory.
The score was 4-0.
The Boston Celtics gave the New York no chance to breathe, sweeping the New York Knicks cleanly and decisively with an almost ruthless, autumn-like sweep.
As the game ended, Madison Square Garden was filled with an unusually enthusiastic round of applause from the home fans for the visiting Celtics, along with a deafening chorus of boos directed at their own management.
On the sidelines, Jeff Van Gundy sat quietly at the end of the Celtics ' bench, watching Lin Qi in the center of the court embracing and celebrating with Rick Carlisle. He downed his warm espresso in one gulp.